Electric-alarm mail-box.



J. H. CORBETT, Jn. ELEGTRIG ALARM MAIL Box.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 1Q, 1910. 1,017,513. A Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. CORBETT, JR., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORMK, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO EDWARD IVI. WORDEN, OF SALEM, VIRGINIA.

ELECTRIC-ALARM MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Application filed. August 10, 1910. Serial No. 576,441.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES H. CORBETT, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Alarm Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in letter boxes and particularly directed to an alarm mechanism connected with the box and designed to be operated upon the insertion of mail, whereby to notify the box owner that mail has been deposited therein.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of an alarm mechanism for letter boxes in which a pendulum electric contact is operated upon the opening of the closing flap of the letter slot, the moving of the pendulum serving to make a series of momentary closings of the circuit to impart a series of successive alarm sounds.

The invention in the preferred form of details will be describedin the following specification, reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the improved letter box. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with the rear wall of the case removed and the alarm circuit shown in diagram. Fig. .3 is a longitudinal central section of the improved box taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking in the opposite direction.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings the improved mail box comprises the usual casing 1 which may be in any desired shape, size, or of any material. In the present showing-the box is of the type designed for use in apartment houses or the like and is shown as provided with a door 2 formed for the reception of the name plate 3. Above the door the casing is formed with the usual letter slot 4 whereby to permit the introduction of mail matter into the box, said slot being normally closed by a plate 5 formed with ears 6 to rotatably engage a rod 7 fixed on the inner surface of the casing. A spring 8 is coiled about the rod having one terminal overlying the plate 5 and the other engaging the inner surface of the casing, whereby to normally maintain the plate in position to seal the slot.

Movably pendent from a lug 9 secured to l the top wall of the casing is what I term a pendulum contact member 10. This member, as will be more clearly apparent from Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a suitable length of metal of comparatively slight proportion which is enlarged or otherwise formed at the lower end to provide a weight 11. Above the weight the member 10 is provided with oppositely projecting arms 12 and 13, the former of which is widened to form a lip, 12a, while the latter is terminally provided with a forwardly projecting pin 14. One of the ears 6 is projected toward the pendulum contact in the form of a finger 15, the part being so varranged that the finger normally underlies the lip 12 of the pendulum contact, as will be apparent from Figs. 3 and 4.

In one corner of the casing 1 is secured a block 16 of insulating material, to which is secured a contact strip 17 of spring material, which strip projects toward, beyond, and above the pin 14 of the pendulum contact, the strip being arranged in the path of movement of said pin in operation.

The alarm 18 which may be of any type is arranged in circuit with the box through conductors 19 and 20, the former of which is connected directly to the casing 1, thereby energizing the pendulum contact, and the latter conductor connected to the strip 17, as shown in Fig. 2.

In operation it will be noted that upon the displacement of the plate 5 to permit the introduction of mail through the slot 4 the finger 15 will engage the lip 12 of the pendulum contact and swing said pendulum to one side, the movement being continued until, through the relative arrangement of the parts, the linger rises past the lip. The swinging pendulum will cause a series of successive engagements between the pin 14 and the strip 17 thus successively making and breaking the circuit and causing a seriels of sharp intermittent alarms on the signa The invention is primarily designed for use in apartment houses and the like, in which event the alarm is also utilized as the ordinary door signal. Iith the particular construction described this is entirely possible as the sounding of the alarm under the influence of the usual push button is readily and clearly distinguishable from the alarm sound inthe operation of the present device.

It is to be understood of course that the invention is equally applicable under other conditions of use, for example in rural tree delivery boxes and may also serve to protect the mail matter Within the box in that any attempt to abstract such matter will result in the sounding oi the alarm and the knowledge ot the owner of the usual times of the postmans visits Will indicate an unusual condition at the box, necessitating investigation.

Having fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

l. An alarm mechanism for mail boxes including an alarm circuit, a pendulum contact forming one terminal of the circuit and means operated by the introduction of mail matter into the box to oscillate said pendulum contact, and a member forming the remaining terminal of the circuit and designed to be engaged by the pendulum contact during oscillation.

2. An alarm mechanism for mail boxes including an alarm circuit, a pendulum contact forming one terminal of the circuit and a spring strip forming the remaining terminal of the circuit, means adapted to oscillate the pendulum contact upon introduction of mail matter into the box and a pin carried by the pendulum contact to engage the strip during the oscillation of said contact.

3. The combination with a mail box including a slot closing plate of a pendulum supported in the box, means carried by the plate to engage and oscillate the pendulum in the opening movement of the plate and an alarm circuit designed to be closed by the successive oscillations of the pendulum.

4. The combination With a mail box including a mail slot closing plate, a pendulum supported Within the box, a spring strip secured Within the box and projecting adjacent the pendulum, a finger carried by the plate t0 engage and oscillate the pendulum in the opening movement of the plate, a pin carried by the pendulum to intermittently engage the strip during the oscillation of the pendulum and an alarm circuit having its terminals electrically connected t0 the strip and pendulum.

In testimony whereof I affix my Signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

' JAMES H. CORBETT, JR.

llitnesses J. B. ANDERSON, DANIEL M. GEIsT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

